Last night at the Ohio Theatre, BalletMet and Cincinnati Ballet presented three short works,
including one each by the companies’ respective artistic directors. Their imaginative creations
were reason enough to go, but like any good hosts, the best was saved for last.

The evening ended with a majestic performance of legendary choreographer George Balanchine’s
1947 ballet
Symphony in C. With the principals, demi couples and corps, the services of 40 dancers
were required, achieved with the temporary yoking of the two ballet companies.

To whet our appetite, however, the program began with Edwaard Liang’s much more minimalistic,
but no less impressive,
Wunderland. BalletMet’s inaugural performance of a work choreographed by the company’s new
artistic director was also the most explicitly modern on the bill.

With less-colorless-than-usual music by Philip Glass, a series of brief scenes played out among
men and women. In the first pas de deux, Bethany Lee and David Ward were introduced standing facing
each other, mirror-like, appearing to the audience as one.

Carrie West and Gabriel Gaffney Smith brought a more tempestuous flavor to their pas de deux, as
he reached for her waist at the precise moment when piano keys were struck. The two seemed to
summon the snowfall that covered the stage near the end — a magic moment that also explained the
title.

Next was
Bolero, choreographed by Cincinnati Ballet artistic director Victoria Morgan. The music of
Maurice Ravel was the backdrop to a kind of “seven ages of man” for balletomanes. Rows of BalletMet
Academy students were gradually supplanted by adult Cincinnati Ballet dancers. Most striking among
them was Cincinnati Ballet’s Janessa Touchet, who in her pas de deux with Rodrigo Almarales
displayed flawless technique and had sass to spare.

But there was no topping the blissful brilliance of Balanchine. With its euphoric expression of
Georges Bizet’s music,
Symphony in C was never less than exciting. During the 3rd Movement, the corps practically
hopped to the melodies, while the multitude of dancers assembled for the finale dazzled.

Just as Balanchine was bewitched by Bizet, the members of these two Ohio companies appeared
similarly stirred by Balanchine.